Tag Archive: spring

I am relatively new to homesteading, and I know that it will take years of feeling everything out before we can move in an instinctive way. I read books and consult forums and all of it, but it just doesn’t replace living it. I *have* been doing this long enough to know that much. Oftentimes, I’ll read or hear advice that I know is faulty or under-lived, or I’ll find out later that it wasn’t sound after implementing it. The internet/larger culture is just so full of folks who present expertise where it hasn’t been earned.

A recent view of my very experimental homestead.

Anyway, I have been thinking a lot about the lost heritage of homesteading/homemaking. I frequently come into a situation and I will feel a tangible gap in knowledge, and I’ll just have to roll up my sleeves and remember that even my elder homesteaders had to just engage and figure it out.… Continue Reading...

Spring eating is here and I'm loving every minute of it. There was a point in the middle of winter where I was a little souped-out and we were buying citrus fruit just to make up the difference. We still ate well, but I so clearly craved FRESH. Here we are! These morels were gifted to us from some friends, and Jeff and I found another 10 or so just bopping around the woods the other day. I think we may try again just to see if there are any more, but I count this year as a success.

They weren't really enough to store, but they were enough to make a nice meal out of. We chose to sautee them up with some button mushrooms in butter, garlic, leeks, ramps, and a little salt and pepper.… Continue Reading...

The maple syruping adventure of 2013 was a great success. We got over 2 gallons! That is, including our snafus. We accidentally mixed coffee heating up and maple syrup finishing on the stove to make one pint of mighty delicious "coffee syrup". We also accidentally made a quart of maple sugar by heating it just a little too long. Woops! Delicious mistakes, if you ask me.

We've been going through a lot of change lately (what's new?). The Englishes are selling their house, it's looking like, so we had to quickly move the whole microgreen business here. It was good timing anyway, now that the weather works for us to keep most of them in the greenhouse. It was also a great excuse to clean and prep the greenhouse.… Continue Reading...

There's been kind of a theme in my life, lately. Well, there have been a few. I have been focusing some on humility, which is never a bad thing. I'm meditating a lot on the whole concept and value of honesty. I've learned that honesty is a really big deal to me. And I mean like, ruthless, radical honesty- specifically with myself. I'm not saying I'm flawless in this area… I'm hoping to move in that direction, though. I'm also thinking a lot about goals and purpose and meaning in life- what's the point of it all?… that kind of thing. I mean, I don't have great words of wisdom to impart, nor do I have an answer to that question (lots of wispy theories, though…).… Continue Reading...

Jeff and I went to bed irritated at each other last night (it’s never really a "fight" anymore, just communication glitches it seems). In the early early dark morning, I got up to pee and when I climbed back in bed he held me close we said we were sorry. We decided to make it an "Our Sorry French Toast" kind of morning, and it’s been just the ticket. It’s impossible for us to always see each other fully. We’ve got our egos, our stress, our unfulfilled needs, etc., that hinder our ability to be patient and open with each other all the time. I’m just so grateful that we’ve got the ability and willingness to work on it, because our purpose together is clear. We are together to help each other grow and to keep each other safe in love.… Continue Reading...